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Woman Runs Across Lake Shore Drive To Escape Robbers, Gets Hit And Killed

By Joe Ward | May 29, 2016 8:29am | Updated on May 30, 2016 2:52pm
  A 32-year-old woman was killed after she tried to cross Lake Shore Drive while fleeing from robbers in Streeterville early Sunday, according to police.
A 32-year-old woman was killed after she tried to cross Lake Shore Drive while fleeing from robbers in Streeterville early Sunday, according to police.
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CHICAGO — Police stepped up patrols on Lake Shore Drive this Memorial Day weekend after a 15-year-old girl in a car was shot dead and a second woman running from a robbery was hit and killed by a passing truck, police said.

The first death happened early Saturday on the Drive near Fullerton. The second came early Sunday near Grant Park.

Deputy Supt. John Escalante on Sunday said police patrols on the Drive were stepped up.

"It's what the city is known for," Escalante said. "It's a beautiful part of the city. We have increased our patrols, and it will continue to be a safe drive for tourists and citizens coming through the city."

The 32-year-old woman hit and killed was identified by her family as Pamela Johnson. She was killed after she tried to cross Lake Shore Drive while fleeing from robbers in Streeterville early Sunday, according to police. 

The woman was with a 43-year-old man in the 600 block of North Lake Shore Drive at 1:40 a.m. Sunday when a group of men walked up and announced a robbery, said Officer Laura Amezaga, Chicago Police spokeswoman. At least one of the men showed a handgun, Amezaga said.

The man and woman fled across Lake Shore Drive where they were both struck by a pick-up truck traveling southbound, Amezaga said.

The woman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Amezaga said.

The man was taken to Northwestern, where he was considered to be stable, Amezaga said.

No one is in custody, she said.

Johnson has a 12-year-old son and works at a call center. A family member described her as "fun-loving and would do anything for anyone."

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